2001 Honda Insight Problems & Complaints

LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED W/O WARNING OR EXTERNAL CAUSE. WORKED ONE DAY BUT NOT THE NEXT MORNING. NO OBVIOUS FUSE OR RELAY IS THE CAUSE. FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN INADEQUATELY DESIGNED SWITCH THAT WS PRONE TO FAILURE BY GOOGLING THE FAILURE, WHICH HWAS COVERED BY A RECALL. HONDA'S WEBSITE VIN SEARCH SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS CAR. LOCAL DEALER SAYS RECAL WAS SATISFIED IN 2010. SEEMS THERE IS STILL AN INADEQUATELY DESIGNED SWITCH THAT CAN RESULT IN COMPLETE AND SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA INSIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V086000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

BOTH MY LOW BEAMS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING, BUT HIGH BEAMS STILL WORK. I CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS NO POWER BEING SENT TO THE LOW BEAMS. THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR 2000-2002 MODEL YEARS FOR EXACT ISSUE. AMERICAN HONDA, AND THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER TELL ME MY VIN# IS OFF BY 1 MONTH (WITHIN SAME MODEL YEAR ASSOCIATED WITH RECALL), SO IT'S NOT UNDER "RECALL." THEY TOLD ME FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: FEB 24, 2004 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V086000 COMPONENT(S): EXTERIOR LIGHTING SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LOW-BEAM TERMINAL ON THE HEAD LIGHT WIRE HARNESS CAN OVERHEAT AND COULD CAUSE THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. CONSEQUENCE: AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF LOW BEAMS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/ACM2982889/RCDNN-04V086-3477.PDF. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. FIXED ONCE ON RECALL. NOW SAME PROBLEM. SAME HEAT DAMAGED SWITCH & THEY WONT REPAIR. *TR

2001 HONDA CIVIC LX TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HWY AT ABOUT 60MPH NO WARNING ENGINE JUST STARTING REVVING FROM WHAT I HEAR THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS YEAR OF HONDAS. *TR

HONDA SENT ME A LETTER ASKING ME TO BRING MY 2001 HONDA CIVIC TO THE HONDA DEALER FOR AIRBAG RECALL. I CALLED THE HONDA DEALER IN SANTA ANA CALIFORNIA TO PLAN TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM ON SATURDAY WHEN I COULD BE OFF FROM THE WORK. THE HONDA DEALER SAID ON SATURDAY THEY ONLY DO "REGULAR SERVICES", NOT RECALL REPAIR. THEN TODAY I TOOK A DAY OFF FROM THE WORK TO GO TO THE HONDA DEALER, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS, AND ASKED ME TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK. IS THIS RECALL UNIMPORTANT? WHY CAN THEY DO REVENUE-SERVICE BUT NOT RECALL-SERVICE ON WEEKEND? WHY DON'T THEY EVEN HAVE PARTS IN STOCK FOR RECALL? ARE HONDA AND HONDA DEALERS HANDLING THE RECALL IN A PROFESSIONAL AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA INSIGHT. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA INSIGHT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE SMELLED A CHEMICAL ODOR, AND SAW FLAMES BEHIND HER. SHE PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY WILL SEND SOMEONE OUT TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGE. SHE SPECULATED THAT BATTERY FAILURE CAUSED THE FIRE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100000.

MONDAY MORNING I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAT TO THE VET. I PUT HER IN A PET CARRIER AND PUT THE CARRIER IN MY 2001 HONDA INSIGHT WITH THE PET DOOR FACING FORWARD. I GOT ON THE 101 N. IN LOS ANGELES AND HAD DRIVEN ONLY A FEW MILES WHEN I SMELLED A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR. THINKING THE SMELL WAS COMING PERHAPS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE I CONTINUED. THEN MY DOOR OPEN LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR FILLED WITH A THICK SMOKE. I LOOKED BEHIND ME AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM BELOW AND BEHIND THE CAT CARRIER. I QUICKLY PULLED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY LUCKILY THERE WAS AN EXIT WITH A VERY SHORT EXIT RAMP. I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED MY DOOR AND THREW MY PURSE OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE DOOR TO THE PET CARRIER AND REMOVED MY CAT. BY THIS TIME THE FLAMES AND SMOKE HAD INCREASED. I TRIED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCHBACK HOPING TO SMOTHER THE FLAMES WITH A COAT BUT THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED AND THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE HAD ESCALATED. I MOVED AWAY FROM THE CAR AND YELLED FOR HELP. I WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 AND THE FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED IN A FEW MOMENTS. I TOOK MANY PICTURES WITH MY CELL PHONE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE WHICH COMPLETELY MELTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE ONLY OWNERS. WE HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS AND HAVE REPLACED RECALLED ITEMS INCLUDING THE BATTERY AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. *TR

BOTH DOORS ON OUR 2000 THE HONDA ODYSSEY GET STUCK AND POSE A SAFETY THREAT. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH, AND SHIFTING TO 3RD GEAR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS MISSING AND KNOCKING. THE MALFUNCTION LOCKS UP THE TRANSMISSION WHILE IN MOTION AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE FREEWAY AND SOMETIMES UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT MAKING HARD TO SLOW DOWN. THE EGR VALVE SYSTEM IS ALSO CLOGGED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE POORLY AND POLLUTING THE AIR. *JB

FUEL PRESSURE CUT OFF SWITCH LEAKING FUEL AFTER VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *JB

A WOMAN DRIVER VIOLATED THE RED SIGNAL AT AN INTERSECTION AND HIT MY CAR IN A INTERSECTION. MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND MY CHEST GOTA HIT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. EXPERIENCING SEVERE PAIN, ALTHOUGH NO PHYSICAL INJURY. DAMAGE TO THE CAR. MANUFACTURER HONDA ACCORD EX V6 2001 MODEL

I PURCHASED A NEW 2001 HONDA, ODYSSEY IN MAY OF 2001. AS OF TODAY, MAY 2005, I AM PRESENTLY AWAITING MY 5TH TRANSMISSION TO BE PUT IN THE VAN. MY CAR MEETS ALL OF THE ELEMENTS NECESSARY TO QUALIFY AS LEMON UNDER THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE, AND AMERICAN HONDA REFUSES TO BUY BACK THE CAR. THEY PREFER TO BE SUED. I PAID $32,000.00 FOR THIS VAN, AND THEY WILL NOT DO THE DECENT THING. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA AGAIN.

SRS LIGHT BLINKS INCESSANTLY 40% OF THE TIME. SOME ATTRIBUTE THIS TO ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE DUE TO CELL PHONE USAGE. IT IS ACTUALLY A DEFECT OF THE SRS SENSOR, BUT HONDA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOW IRRESPONSIBLE.

IT SEEMS THAT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND ONLY BRIGHT WHEN I USE MY HIGH BEAMS. MY HONDA SEEMS TO CUT OFF BY ITSELF AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT SEEMS NOT TO REPLICATE ITS ACTIONS FOR THEM. IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR WILL ACT AS IF IT IS STALLING SOMETIMES AND THEN WILL NOT TURN OVER. I HAVE HAD MY STARTER CHECKED AND THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE SO THE MECHANIC STATED. IT SEEMS THAT MY DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK AT THE NORMAL TIME THAT IT SHOULD TAKE TO DEFROST. IT TAKES AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO CLEAR. I HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE REAR SEAT WITH PASSENGERS GETTING OUT OF THE LEFT PASSENGER SEAT BELT. IT SEEMS TO GET STUCK. AND THERE ARE NO OTHER ARTICLES IN THE SNAP TO CAUSE THAT. MY SRS AND ABS LIGHT SEEMS TO STAY ON FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. THEN WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AND APPLYING BREAKS IT SEEMS THAT THE CAR STILL CONTINUES TO SLIDE, IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON 9-13-04. I HAVE TAKEN THE BRAKES TO GET CHECKED. AND THE MECHANIC HAS CLEARED THEM. I AM GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CAR. AND JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS THAT HAVE COME ON MY CAR AND WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF THESE RECALLS. ALSO WHAT DO I DO IN SUCH A CASE THAT I HAVE RECALLS ON A NUMBER OF PARTS AND NOT JUST 1 THING? *JB

CVT TRANSMISSION FAILING AT 51,000. VEHICLE BEGAN SMALL RANDOM SHUDDERS IN THE 40,000'S... (LIKE WHEN YOU PURCHASE CHEAP GASOLINE). THREE DAYS AGO MAJOR PROLONGED SHUDDERING AT ACCELERATION BEGAN, SO THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN ITS USUAL MANNER. LUCKILY VEHICLES BEHIND ME WERE OBSERVING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC ON 11/12/2004 REVEALED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NO ACTION YET TAKEN. *JB

SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILED AT 39,280 MILES. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES RANDOM EVENTS OF POWER LOSS (IMA BATTERY RECALIBRATING) THAT CAUSE SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN NEEDED (I.E. ACCELERATING TO CHANGE LANES, CLIMBING A STEEP HILL, OR STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A LIGHT) THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY HONDA, BUT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED AS "NORMAL" EVENTS. HOWEVER, THESE POWER LOSS EVENTS CAN COME AT TIMES WHEN LOSS OF POWER CAN BE DANGEROUS. *JB

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, VEHICLE WILL HYDROPLANE(SKID ON A WET SURFACE), WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. . TS JG *JB

CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP, WHICH INCLUDED TIRE ROTATION. SOON AFTER, CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS BUMPING, WEAVING AND VIBRATING. A TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE STICKING OUT OF THE SIDES. *JG *DT

CONSUMER STATES THE MIRRORS ARE TOO SHORT, WHICH FORCED HIM TO MAKE NEW BRACKETS EXTENDING THE MIRRORS OUT AN ADDITIONAL 4 1/2 INCHES, ALSO THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO SMALL. (THIS IS 2001 HONDA REFLEX MOTOR SCOOTER)*JB

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLES DRIVEABILITY IS UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING ABOVE SPEEDS OF 35 MPH ON UNEVEN OR GROOVED PAVEMENT, WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON THESE TYPES OF ROAD SURFACES, THE VEHICLES STEERING BECOMES ABNORMALLY UNSTABLE (SWERVES) AND DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, THE VEHICLES NONCONFORMITY HAS FORCED CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THE MIRRORS ARE TOO SHORT, WHICH FORCED HIM TO MAKE NEW BRACKETS EXTENDING THE MIRRORS OUT AN ADDITIONAL 4 1/2 INCHES, ALSO THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO SMALL. (THIS IS 2001 HONDA REFLEX MOTOR SCOOTER)*JB

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLES DRIVEABILITY IS UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING ABOVE SPEEDS OF 35 MPH ON UNEVEN OR GROOVED PAVEMENT, WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON THESE TYPES OF ROAD SURFACES, THE VEHICLES STEERING BECOMES ABNORMALLY UNSTABLE (SWERVES) AND DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, THE VEHICLES NONCONFORMITY HAS FORCED CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH AND WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK